Promenade
by Apple-chan

Disclaimer: I'm sure you all know what this means.

Summary: Four couples, one perfect night...or is it? A 5-act tale on how four young men and four young women fall in love at the night of their Junior-Senior Prom. YXA, RXP, LXJ, and HXT.

Warnings: AU, PG-13, and the appearance of Hao.^_^

For the record, Act II begins two weeks after Act I.



ACT II: Ready.


SCENE 1: The Odd Couple, the Lawyer's Son, and the Amazing Twins.


"Now," Tao Jun told the two boys as the three of them stepped inside the expansive grounds of the high school, "I'll be heading to the faculty center, okay? I hope you two will behave yourselves," she added sternly.

Ren rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "You don't need to tell us that each and every time, Neesan. We're SIXTEEN, for god's sake."

"Exactly. And you're still as rude as ever," Jun threw back triumphantly. She glanced at the other boy. "Lyserg-kun, can I trust you again to make sure he--" she cocked her head towards her brother, "--doesn't get into any sort of senseless pointless brawl?"

"I'll try my best," Lyserg said, smiling with amusement at his best friend and next-door neighbor, who looked deeply insulted. "As long as I'm around, I'll try to keep the peace, don't worry."

"That's good." Jun sighed with relief. "I'll see you this afternoon, Ren. Lyserg-kun, I'm counting on you." With a final smile, the beautiful jade-haired English teacher-in-training walked off and headed towards the main school building.

Ren watched his sister's retreating form with a contemplating frown on his face. "She always treats me like a little kid," he muttered as he stomped off, backpack slung carelessly over one shoulder.

"That's because you are her kid brother," Lyserg reasoned, catching up with the other boy as he examined the topmost paper from the folder he was holding. "I think it's some sort of rule, isn't it? Just take a look at Horo-horo-kun and Pilica-chan," he emphasized the latter name pointedly.

Ren snorted. "PLEASE. That girl and I are nothing alike," he said dryly.

"On the contrary. If you think about it, you're more alike than you realize," Lyserg concluded, producing a pen from his backpack and checking off the topmost paper, which was actually a list.

Ren glared at him from the corner of his eye. "Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"No one's." Lyserg looked up and smiled innocently.

"I figured as much," Ren threw back dryly.

"I try to be as objective as possible...especially when it comes to you, Ren-kun."

"Then what's the point of having you as my best friend if I can never get you on my side?" Ren wondered aloud. "Never mind. Don't answer that." He shook his head wearily and adjusted the backpack over his shoulder.

Lyserg chuckled, shaking his head as they headed towards the school entrance leading to the shoe lockers. "Just be grateful you have a sister. I wouldn't mind having one, to be honest."

"Hn." Ren grunted. "Trust me, you don't want her around; it's annoying." He sighed. "Ever since she found out that I'm taking Pilica to the prom, it's been a non-stop 'Pilica-chan this, Pilica-chan that' at home." His frown deepened. "The way she talks, you'd think Pilica was her one and only student."

"Maybe not, but she's probably the smartest."

"I wouldn't count on it. She may be smart, but cheerleaders are never the smartest."

"Well...at least Jun-san likes her," Lyserg commented thoughtfully. "That means there's less trouble for you and Pilica-chan...you know, just in case you see her as a possible bridal--"

"DON'T start with me, Lyserg." Ren interrupted pointedly. "The only reason I'm even taking her to the prom is because Horo-horo blackmailed me to do it."

"If you say so."

"...If I weren't so kind, she'd have ended up with one of those airhead perverted friends of hers."

"And you don't want that."

"Of course I DON'T!" Ren stated impatiently. "Even if she's annoying, noisy, and--"

"--cute," Lyserg supplied.

Ren gave him a look. "...She deserves to be treated with utmost decency and respect. Who else can give her that but--"

"--you?"

"Exactly. I can give her the kind of protection she needs. The kind that her brother's given her--"

"--except with you, it's a little bit different because you're not her brother." Lyserg grinned. "You're her prom date...and potential hus--"

"Lyserg, could you STOP putting words into my mouth? I'm doing this because I feel responsible for her. That's it."

"...And because you like her." Lyserg added knowingly. "Come on, Ren-kun. I've known you for far too long...and honestly, the only time I've ever seen you bothered this much about a girl is when it's Pilica-chan." He paused. "And it's not just because of Horo-horo-kun, is it?"

"Lyserg?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut UP."

The green-haired boy sighed with defeat. "Fine. I won't say anything more."

"Good."

"...One little piece of advice, though."

Ren rolled his eyes and sighed with irritation. Here he goes again. Lyserg and his lectures. It never gets old. "What?"

"Whatever you do," Lyserg told him seriously, "don't fall in love with her."

The navy-haired boy gazed at him as if he'd just grown two heads. "You've got to be kidding."

"I mean it," his friend stated firmly. "If that happens, you'll be dead before you can blink, for sure."

Ren rolled his eyes again. Horo-horo, of course. He'd kill anyone who'd even so much as get a measly crush on his sister. "Never gonna happen, believe me," he muttered. "And speaking of love...I suggest you take your own advice."

"Huh?" Lyserg looked at him blankly.

"I meant Jeanne," Ren said with pointed emphasis. "So...how are those rehearsals of yours coming along? Any...developments?" This statement held a whole world of meaning.

"Do you know how much like Professor Silverberg you sound? It's terrifying."

"...And you're evading the question." This time, it was Ren's turn to grin triumphantly as he eyed the thick folder in his friend's hands. "Are those music sheets?"

"Yeah," Lyserg sighed with resignation. "As for the question...it's been good. I think I'll be ready by prom night. I've mastered almost all the pieces we'll need."

"And what about Jeanne?" Ren prodded.

Lyserg rolled his eyes. "She sings very well. Like an--"

"--angel?" Ren supplied teasingly.

"An experienced singer," Lyserg corrected hastily, but there was a slight blush staining his cheeks. Yep, like an angel. A beautiful angel that you can look at, but never touch...he mentally kicked himself. "She learns fast, but I guess I should have expected it from someone of her line--" he stopped abruptly as he spotted a familiar car pulling over at the school's driveway, not very far from where they were. An old vintage Ferrari. "Oh, NO." He groaned. "Ren-kun, hide me." He snuck up behind the other boy and attempted to conceal himself--a futile effort, since he was around three inches taller than his friend, and his spiky green hair was far too conspicuous.

"Lyserg, what the HELL...? Oh. OH," Ren's surprise soon turned into a wide grin of amusement as from the car stepped out a beautiful silvery-blue haired girl with captivating ruby eyes...a young freshman girl who could only be... "It's Jeanne, and...that chauffeur...Marco, right?" He squinted, trying to pinpoint if the familiar tall, blonde bespectacled man with the foreboding eyes was the very same one he and Lyserg have known as the driver and butler of the Iron family, and Jeanne's official guardian and bodyguard for the last nine years.

"Did he see me?" Came Lyserg's quiet inquiry.

"Nope. STOP holding on to my back, for god's sake!"

Lyserg sighed with relief. "Good."

"Don't tell me he hates you as much as Jeanne's father does. STOP holding on to me, dammit!"

"I'm not sure...ouch! Ren-kun, that hurt!" Lyserg rubbed his forehead, which had managed to connect with Ren's forceful elbow. "But every time he even so much as catches me peeking at the Iron Estate even from across the street, he growls." A shudder. "He's scarier than Sir Iron, I swear."

"Well, maybe he didn't see you...but Jeanne has." There was a knowing hint in Ren's voice. "Better get out of hiding, Lyserg. You wouldn't want to offend her now, would you?" And with that, he raised his hand to give Jeanne a small wave.

Lyserg peeked over his best friend's shoulder hesitantly...and saw Jeanne smiling and waving. As soon as her eyes went to him, though, her face reddened quite considerably--perfectly visible even through their distance.

Before he even got a chance to react (wave at her, for instance) though, she grabbed her things and rushed inside the school building, her long hair flying behind her.

He heard Ren laughing in front of him. "That's the worst case of puppy love I've ever seen."

Lyserg could feel the blush creeping up to his cheeks. "Shut UP."


***


"Alright, alright, that's it..." Horo-horo kept his eyes glued to his binoculars as one of his hands dug into a large bag of Nacho Cheesier Doritos. "Exhibit A at twelve o'clock is holding up a mirror, and it appears he's heading towards Exhibit B's position," he muttered to his recorder. "Just as I thought. Come on, move..."

"Ren-kun, how many times do I have to say it? She is not in love me. She calls me Lyserg-niichan, for crying out loud!" Lyserg was arguing with Ren as the two of them entered the lockers. As soon as he spotted Horo-horo by the windows, he gave Ren a questioning look.

"...Just because a girl addresses you respectfully doesn't mean that she can't have feelings for you, you know. I mean, come on! She's adored you for far too long...she's bound to fall in love with you somewhere along the way..." Ren glanced at Horo-horo, then gave the green-haired junior a shrug of indifference as he headed off to change his shoes. "And the 'niichan' thing...girls do that all the time! Take for example--"

"Pilica-chan, you mean?" Lyserg raised an eyebrow as he changed his shoes.

Ren fought off the blush that threatened to stain his cheeks. "That's different." No it's not, his conscience said. It's quite the same and you know it. He resisted the urge to rap his head against the nearby wall.

Lyserg gave him a meaningful look. "No, it's not."

"Yes it is," Horo-horo spoke up suddenly. "Ren treats my sister as a little sister and that's it. End of story." He added without taking a glance at them. "Isn't that right, Ren?"

"Yeah," Ren gave Lyserg a triumphant look. Liar, his conscience told him.

Lyserg sighed, but he didn't seem convinced. He knew Ren far too much. Blame it on the ten years of friendship he's had with the Chinese boy. Quite a weird case of opposites attracting is what you can call the two of them: Lyserg was the well-mannered, sweet-tempered, polite, soft-spoken and refined one; Ren was the rude, brash, loud, violent, and uncivilized one. "Horo-horo-kun, you knew we were here?"

"Yep. You were talking loudly enough," Horo-horo answered dryly. "...And I saw you enter the school grounds. And Jeanne, as well." His voice held a teasing note as he tossed the bag of chips to them. "Doritos."

Ren caught the bag deftly, sniffed it, and then held it out to Lyserg. "What're you doing?"

"Story for The Quill," Horo said without turning around. "I need it for the next issue. Donut?" He dug inside his backpack and offered a half-empty box of Dunkin Donuts to the two.

Ren eyed the box suspiciously, then shook his head and pushed it back towards the senior. "Next issue? Out the window?" He turned to Lyserg blankly.

The latter shrugged, taking a couple of chips and tossing it into his mouth. "It's probably gossip. He writes those." Opening his folder, he began to peruse the music sheets, frowning as he contemplated on each one.

"You're kidding." Pure disbelief was written on the Chinese junior's face.

"I'm not."

"Seriously?"

"Uh-huh. Blind items and all that."

Ren stared at Horo-horo as if he didn't know him. "You WRITE gossip?"

"It's for a good cause!" Horo-horo said defensively, turning around long enough to flash Lyserg a dark look, which the latter chose to ignore.

"How can writing GOSSIP be for a GOOD CAUSE?"

"It's service." Lyserg spoke up. "For the students, you know. The 'right to be informed' and all that."

"Service? Horo-horo, you can get sued for this."

A careless shrug. "If that ever happens, I can always turn to Otousan for help," the senior stated matter-of-factly.

"Your father's a business lawyer, Horo-horo. You can't hire him to defend you for libel. And besides, he's busy enough as it is." Ren reminded him. "He practically lives at the estate."

"That's because your dear father works him to death," Horo-horo threw back. It was always a sullen and sore subject between him and Ren, the fact that his father worked for Tao En. It was one of the main reasons why the two of them--Horo-horo and Ren--started out not as friends, but bitter enemies. Prior to being friends with Lyserg, Ren used to be quite a spoiled mean brat; when he was new to the neighborhood, he often got involved into a lot of fights with the local children--and Horo-horo was one of his biggest and most bitter rivals. Over time, though (and because Lyserg had somehow...influenced Ren and mellowed him out a bit), the two had agreed on a truce and declared themselves friends, for the sake of their families, and later on--because they discovered how much they had in common.

Ren shrugged arrogantly. "It's not our fault we're popular."

"Hn." Horo-horo grunted, finally turning around and digging into his backpack again. "Dew?" He held out a half-empty carrying case of Mountain Dew to his two friends.

Lyserg stared at all the food. It seemed like Horo-horo had brought an entire junk food picnic to school. "What's all this for?"

"Me," the azure-haired boy answered matter-of-factly. "Actually, half of it's for later; I'm saving some for Tamao during our stake-out, but I don't think my stash is gonna last..."

"Tamao?" Ren frowned.

"Yep. We're working on the special prom issue, and during lunch, she and I are..." He paused, then grinned. "It's a secret. I'll let you know once it's done. Lyserg, it'd be nice if you'd help us out," he added, raising a stern eyebrow at one of his staff.

Lyserg smiled apologetically. "I wish I could...but I've got rehearsals," he tapped the folder meaningfully. "Sorry."

Horo-horo frowned with disappointment. "Just for that, I'm gonna write up a small piece on you and Jeanne somewhere in the special issue."

"Horo-horo-kun, if you do that, I'll be dedicating the next empty space in the literary section for that secret love poem you wrote for Tamao."

"LOVE POEM?!?" Ren fell on the floor; he was laughing so hard. "You...write...LOVE POEMS?!?"

"...Alright, I won't do it," Horo said grudgingly, glaring darkly at Ren as a deep blush crept up to his cheeks. "Once you take some time off, just help us out, will you?"

Lyserg smiled beatifically. "Of course I will."


***


"Oniichan, hurry it up! We're gonna be LATE!" Yoh urged his twin brother past the gates of the school towards the shoe lockers. "I'm supposed to meet with Principal Goldbar ten minutes before class..." He shook off his still-drenched head of hair hastily as he ran.

"Aw come on, Otouto, what's the rush?" Hao called out as he walked calmly after his brother. For once, he was donned in his school uniform, with the buttons halfway undone. He tossed his hair gracefully and increased his pace.

"Well, I'm TWO MINUTES late!" Yoh called back frantically, puffing. "She'll kill me."

"...I don't think she could do much worse than Ice Queen, though, could she?" He eyed his brother's tousled and very wet form with amusement.

"Very funny. Come on," Yoh urged. "...Ohayo," he greeted Horo-horo, Ren and Lyserg as he entered the lockers. "Oniichan! Get in here and change your shoes!" He called out as after taking a couple of steps, he lost his balance and fell directly in front of his locker. "...Ow..."

A good-natured laugh sounded behind him. "Otouto, you are such a klutz." Two seconds later, a brief rush of air passed by as Hao entered, his long hair fluttering behind him. "Ohayo gozaimasu!" He greeted cheerfully.

Ren and Horo-horo glanced at Yoh, and pointedly ignored Hao. Lyserg, meanwhile, smiled at Yoh, and sighed with obvious irritation at Hao's presence. "Yoh-kun, what happened to you?"

"Nothing much," Yoh said quickly, sitting on the bench and exchanging his shoes. He tossed the other pair to Hao, who caught it deftly.

"...Except the Ice Queen," Hao barged in cheerfully, examining the shoes with distaste and tossing it back to his brother. "She got annoyed with him earlier this morning and threw a bucket of toilet water over his head."

Yoh stared at the shoes his brother threw back, sighed with resignation and promptly returned it to its case. "I didn't think she was gonna get angry just because of...of soap," he explained sheepishly. "She doesn't usually get that angry at me."

"Yeah, she tends to get that angry at ME," Hao admitted. "But this time, you went overboard, Otouto." He shook his head. "SPYING on Ice Queen while she's taking a bath...I mean, even I can't manage that." Then, he grinned. "Although I have to admit, it was quite the perfect plan...didn't know you had it in you, Yoh."

"I WASN'T spying!" Yoh protested, his face quickly turning a deep shade of red. Legs. He had only managed to catch a glimpse of Anna's beautiful shapely long and white and smooth legs and he practically died of nosebleed. "I thought she was dressed. I thought she was finished. I NEEDED soap!"

"You SPIED on Anna in the BATH?!?" Horo-horo stared at his friend and classmate with amazement. "WOW, Yoh..."

Yoh sighed and shook his head in defeat. "I didn't mean it," he mumbled. "I just hope this wouldn't cause her to suddenly break me off as her date for the prom, I mean..." his voice trailed off.

"Don't worry about it, Otouto," Hao told him cheerfully as he sat down beside the green-haired junior, purposely annoying him with his presence. "She loves you too much to reject you."

"Huh?" Yoh gazed at him blankly.

Hao rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Nothing. You'll figure it out soon. Anyway," he clasped his hands together and gazed at the other three. "You guys ready?"

"For what?" The three asked in unison.

Hao rolled his eyes again. "For the PROM, dimwits." He sighed with exasperation. "Honestly, am I the only guy out here who does any preparation? I mean, this is a rather important event in our lives. Don't you guys care about it just a little?"

"Of course we do!" Horo-horo snapped. "...We're just not as vain as you are, that's all."

Hao smiled sweetly. "So what have you done to prepare, Horo-horo-kun?" He asked knowingly. "I hear dear little Tamao-imouto is your date."

"How did you know?" Horo-horo wondered incredulously. "I've never told anyone except..." He glanced at Ren and Lyserg, who both shrugged.

The long-haired senior shrugged. "I'm her Hao-niisan. She tells me everything, including..." he gave Yoh a sidelong glance, "...the things she likes, and loves. I do believe you're included in the things she loves," he added meaningfully.

Horo-horo blushed again in spite of himself. "Hn." He grunted, glaring at Hao. Why, of all people, did Tamao's confidante have to be Hao? That's the fifty-million dollar question.

"And Ren-kun, what about YOU?" Hao turned to the Chinese junior. "What have you done to prepare yourself?"

"I don't need to prepare," Ren told him airily. "I'm perfect the way I am, so butt out of my business."

"Hm," Hao was mildly insulted, but he ignored it; instead, he turned to one of his most favorite people in the whole school. "...And you, Lyserg-kun? What have you been DOING to prepare for this momentous occasion?"

Lyserg, who had just about had enough with the long-haired brunette's efforts to squeeze himself beside him, finally stood up. "It's none of your damn business." Every single time he looks at this guy, he gets the strong urge to punch him out for all the times he has messed up everything in the music room. Said room happens to be one of Lyserg's most favorite and prized places in the whole school.

His--and Jeanne's. Extremely prized to a point of being sacred, and darn it if a troublemaker like Hao was going to be the one...violating such a precious haven.

"On the contrary," Hao spoke up cheerfully. "I think it might be my business...after all, I've seen you and that beautiful freshman girl rehearsing those LOVE songs for the past two weeks, and you two seemed PRET~TY cozy."

Lyserg turned a shocking state of red at this--from embarrassment, or fury, or both--we'll never know. "You know what? Just...stay OUT of the music room, please? I'm asking you this, man to man. Alright?" He gave the long-haired senior a pleading look.

"What if I say no?" Came Hao's annoyingly sweet reply.

"Argh...!" Lyserg growled under his breath, fighting back the urge to grab Hao by the ankles, hang him upside down and strangle him. "I've had enough of this. Ren-kun, let's go. I need to see Professor Silverberg and show him these sheets; we need them at rehearsals later."

"Yeah, okay," Ren agreed, standing up and walking beside his best friend. "I need to see my sister before class, anyway. There's something I forgot to ask her..." He nodded at Horo-horo and Yoh, and raised an eyebrow at Hao. "We'll see you."

"I'll see you before lunch time at the prom committee meeting, Yoh-kun!" Lyserg called as he and and Ren walked out.

"Yeah, see you!' Yoh told him, his eyes brightening as he suddenly remembered the meeting, thanks to Lyserg. It was a good thing, too. Otherwise, Anna was going to kill him for not attending...again.

"You know what," Horo-horo said, picking up his spying materials and junk food picnic hastily and placing them into his pack, "...I have to run off, too. I need to drop off my materials at the staff office. I'll see you in class, Yoh!" Ignoring Hao pointedly, he rushed out of the locker room.

"Hmm, they left so suddenly," Hao sighed with disappointment. "It's a shame. They didn't even give me a chance to tell them what I'm doing to prepare for the prom." He then glanced at his brother, who now had a blank look on his face. "What's wrong, Yoh?"

Yoh glanced at his twin and grinned sheepishly. "What was I supposed to do again?"

Hao had to smile at his brother's forgetfulness. Even after all these years, Yoh never ceased to amuse him. "You had a meeting with the Principal, remember?"

"Oh. Oh YEAH!" Yoh's eyes brightened, and he quickly stood up. He glanced at his watch. "Damn, I'm now EIGHT MINUTES late!" He shook his head and frantically picked up the rest of his things (his shoes, mainly) and rushed out of the room. "Oniichan, I'll see you later!"

"Ja!" Hao continued to sit calmly inside the locker room as he waved cheerfully at his brother.

Yoh popped his head in again. "For GOD'S sake...attend class, will you?"

"No prob," Hao answered gaily. "I'll be sure to wake you up before it ends, don't worry." He called out teasingly.

"Very funny! Ja!"



TSUZUKU.



Review Replies: AnG3L1c*diVa-chan, thanks. YohXAnna coming up next! Itako No Anna Asakura, yep, he is evil...just the way I like him.=) Kira, love your update! Yep, I totally agree.=) ~Hotaru~, well, watch out for the next scenes, then. KristiexxNguyen, yeah, I recently found out that Zeke thing, too..._ how...repulsive. Hao is such a cute name! GoddessLD, I couldn't agree more.=) SkyDancerHawk, I'll try to put him in as much as I can...I love him, after all.^^ bOw-doWn-tO-KeiKO, update wish granted.^^ cherri-chan, which girl? All the girls.*grin* Lafine, more Hao...soon. Everyone loves Hao, ne? yuri maxwell, hehehe...you remember our favorite (or actually, mine) yaoi song, ne? Ken and Aya's theme song, lol. Rainbow hair? Maybe...but he likes dark brown better.^^ Hehehe. Takari-san, yep, he is that good. keiko, uhm...nope, can't, sorry. Thanks for the support, though. Glad you're liking this. Eikou, here's the update.^^ Trinity, I've had that tall and handsome picture of Ren in my mind for a long time, so...hehe. Glad you like this. TN4, here's another long (yet incredibly pointless) chapter. Yes, Hao is total coolness. That huge ego and self-esteem only adds to his charms, I think. Anonymousse, I think Hao enjoys it all, so don't feel sorry for him!^^ Fluff Inc or the writer formerly known as Fluffychans, wonder why you changed your name? Just asking. Anyhow, thanks, and here's the update. Hope it's not too weird.^_^ Nezumi-chan, glad I cheered you up.^^ Me and daddy Hao, at least. Hope you're feeling loads better. Talk to you again soon.^^ Kyasha Ishtar, me too. Glad you like him here...I like him here, as well.^^ Thanks for reading! Reen, you and me both.^^ Tawag ka sa kin, pag-usapan natin. Let's talk it over...^^ bOw-doWn-tO-KeiKO, uh...last time I checked, it was still there.^^;;; Kiwifroot, here's the update!^^